Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-09-30

lished by the Constitution Of 1857, after
sixteen years experience of an independent
Court Of Appeals and enc Judge upon the
circuits, and was an influential argument
for the adoption Of the present Constitution.
On the score Of expense, 1t may be men
toned as an open secret, that while the
number Of Judges Of the Court Appeals will
be reduced, the number of circuits will be
largely increased, and the salaries increased
all along the line in order 10 secure the
best talent"
There seems 10 be a shadowy opinion
that in some marvellous way Constitu-
tional Convention would rehabilitate the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. How, we are
not told. The present Constitution, it is as
serted, cripples Its management, and yet the
emily provision Of the Constitution which
acts as a restraint is the very proper one
which declares shat no sale or contract of
sale of the States interest in the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, &C., shall go into effect
until the same shall be ratified by the en-
suing General Assembly," Nothing can be
more proper, 1t would seem, than that the
State should retain some power to control
the disposition OF its own interests in this
great public work. 1t is difficult to con-
ceive what object there can be In relinquish-
ing this oversight, or what good can result
to the canal and the large communities de-
pendant upon it in various ways by giving
absolute control to Board of Directors very
few of whom:if any, hold dollar of its
stock, or have any personal interest in Its
preservation.
We have never seen it cont led lhst a
new Constitution would prl = in any
manner, or 70 any appreciab yFs<ys. The
material interests Of the people Of Maryland.
II 10 demonstrable, we think, that their in
terests might seriously suffer by a change.
The State government Of Maryland is not
expensive as compared with other States,
and the demands upon the taxpayer are
not such as arise from any present lavish
or useless expenditure Of the public money.
AL, the direct tax, except that for the sup.
port of the public schools, is levied TO pay
the interest on the public debt. These dc.
mands might have been lessened long ago
it is true, by rigid adherence to Constitu.
tional requirements, but just now we are
discussing the necessity Of change, not the
financial policy of the State. Now, as we
have intimated with regard to the Judiciary
it may be safely assumed that the salaries Of
officials will be raised instead Of diminished
and the expenses Of the State government
largely increased. This will be perpetual
burden.
Then there is the expense Of the Conven.
ton itself, which means great deal more
than the per dium ofthe members There Is
the cost oil special election for members, Of
special election upon the adoption of the
Constitution, and Of session of the Legis.
lature to carry out Its mandates, in addition
TO the pay Of the members and officers and
the publication Of the journal and debates
1t is safe to say that the expenditures i'm
mediately incident to Constitutional Con
vention weuld approach, If they did moi
exceed, three quarters Of a million Of dollars
a sum which will exhaust the surplus In
the treasury.
II there were something really pressing In
the few reasons for calling a Convention
they would not, In view of what has beer
said, justify 1t, when we reflect that tn,
Constitution provides All easy method O
amendment. Every one of these reasons
have been descanted upon with more OF
less force for number Of years, and In tn,
last session of the Legislature were the sub
ject OF elaborate debate. A few brief amend
ments would have covered all the deuand,
Of the GeAstitutiDnaf-reiu rmers; u ttere 4
reason TO believe that such amendment.
would have passed. But the session ended
without any such amendments having beer
proposed, and this fact has given rise to The
suspicion that none was or is wanted II
advance Of the assembling of Convention
These amendments would have been par
of the Organic Law before Convention
can be called. The advocates of Conven
ton knew this, and yet they let slip the OPP
portunity to produce all those good results
which they claim are to flow from new
Constitution.
We have written the above by way of in.
PRODUCTION TO the discussion of this question,
which we propose to continue from time to
time until the election. Hereafter, we shall
enter more into detail. We bespeak the
careful attention of our readers. We shall
deal with facts and principles which en-.
dure to instruct and bless the generations OF
the future, not with men and motives which
vanish In day. We shall endeavor to
speak with that dignity which so great a
subject demands. We shall utter no word
which does not spring from earnest cen
yiction and mature reflection, and we shall
keep steadily in view the true interests of the
people whom we love and the honor of the
Commonwealth whose record we venerate.